Oral hygienic device



Dec. zo, 1956 R. E. ERICSON ORAL HYGIENIC DEVICE Filed July 2'?, 1964 wfd@ United States Patent O Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,279 7 Claims. (Cl. 132-84) This invention relates to an oral hygienic device, specically -a sanitary toothbrush for cleaning the teeth, and includes a unitary dentifrice-dispensing toothbrush.

Several well-founded reasons exist for the use of disposable toothbrushes, th-at is, toothbrushes intended to be used once and then discarded. One reason is the unsauitary condition of a toothbrush after even a single use. Another reason is based on the growing awareness on the part of the public that a most effective control of dental caries and periodontal diseases is by brush cleaning the teeth and stimulation of the gums regularly after eating. It is inconvenient if not personally objectionable, however, to carry a conventional toothbrush in ones pocket or purse for use in a program of regular brushing for persons who do not have -all meals at home. It is suggested :that with increased education in dental health that brushing the teeth regularly after meals may 4become as commonplace ta practice las it is tov wash the hands in preparation of eating a meal. j

An object of this invention is a sanitary, disposable, inexpensive but efficient tooth brushing device. Another object of this invention is a device of the character described which is conveniently portable. A further object of this invention is a tooth cleaning device for the character described Which can be easily manipulated in the mouth to bring the brushing head of said device into contact with the teeth. An additional object of this invention is a device of the character described containing a dentifrice for dispensing at the brush head.

The tooth brushing device in accordance with the invention is constructed from :a tube of flexible, resilient plastic material. One end of the tube is slit to provide a ,tei-rent to sanitary, single use.

3,292,644 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 Mice the base of which is indicated at 3 wherein the numeral 4 designates the fold line lat the outer surface of the tube at the base of the U-fold. The numeral 5 designates the inner fold line at the Ibase of the U-fold formed by the overlapping portions of the tube at the base. The base of the U-fold is located closer to the base 6 of the bristles 2 than to the opposite end of thetube. One of the Ilegs of the U-bent tube is bent away from the other to provide a cup-shaped bristled end portion 7 and a handle portion 8 extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. As shown in the drawings, the bristledend of the tube is bent downwardly from the handle 8 along a line 12. The distance from the fold line 12 to the outer fold line 4 is at least equal to the distance between the inner fold line 5 and outer fold line `4 at the base of the U-fold.

The -overlapped tube portions at the base 3 of the U-fold are sealed together with deformation of the plastic tubing thereat and alongthe fold line 12 to maintain the cup-shaped bristled end portion 7 at substantially a lright angle to the remaining portion of the tube 1 forming the handle 8. With this construction, the disposable :toothbrush of `this invention retains the advanta-geous features of easy manipulation in brushing the teeth heretofore provided onlyin toothbrushes of more expensive and complex construction, the expense of which is a de- Referen-ce to FIG. 4

Y shows how the bristles 2 flex and spread outwardly when plurality of bristles forming the :brushing head of thetoothbrush. The tube is folded and sealed .at theV overlapping tube portions along the fold lines to provide a handle portion rand a head portion extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. A dentifrice material or mouth cleansing aid may be contained in the brush head, f

in the handle, lor in both, as described below.l The novel construction of the one-piece oral hygienic device of this invention is illustrated in the embodiments shown n the drawings, in which:

' FIG. l is a side elevational view of 'a tube of plastic material slit -at lone end t-o provide a plurality of bristles for the brushing head; p

FIG. 2 is lan end view of the `slit tube of FIG. 1, as viewed from the slit end;

FIG. 3 is a `side elevationalview of a device of this invention made from the tube shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is :a top view of .a dentifrice dispensing device of this invention, taken partly in cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG.

5 taken along the lines 6 6; and

FIG. 7 is Ia side elevational view of another embodiment of a dentifrice-dispensing device of this invention. In the drawings the numeral 1 designates 'a length of a hollow tube of thermoplastic material from which the disposable toothbrush may be constructed, for example, an extruded polyethylene tube having an outer diameter of about 7/16 :and an inner diameter of f'ys". A plurality of -bristles .are formed at one end of the tube, as by slitting.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tube 1 lis bent in a U-fold applied against a surface in a brushing action. v

The overlapped portions of the thermoplastic tube at the base 3 of the U-fold may be most conveniently sealed together by means of conventional heat and pressure sealing opera-tions. In `this instance the base of the U-fold of the aforementioned M6" outer diameter tube of polyethylene may be compressed between the 'bars of a pressure-heat seal device and retained therein until the overlapped portions of the tube are fusion sealed together. During this operation the bristled end portion 7 is bent Valong the line 12, the heat at the edge of the bar adjacent thereto serving'to detorm the plastic tube into a crease line therealong. In this sealingroperation the cup-shaped bristled end portion 7 is sealed from the hollow tubular handle 8. The base 3 -of the U-fold may be thinned and fanned out as a result of the heat sealing step as shofwn in FIG. 3 and more clearly in FIG. 4.

When sealed as shown at 9, for example by means of pressure and heat seal techniques, the hollow tubular `handle 8 provides a compartment for a dentifrice ma- ,ing head of the toothbrush. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 `with the seal ruptured to provide an opening 10 through which the dentifrice material 11 may pass into the cup-shaped bristled end portion 7. The pressurerupturable seal may be formed,` for example, -by the controlled application of heat and pressure in the region about the intended opening 10 to =form a seal thereat weaker than the seal at the remaining por-v tions ofthie fusion seal at the base of the U-fold.

Another modification if a dentifrice-dispensing device in accordance with this invention is shown in FIG. 7. In this modification the dentifrice is contained in the cavity of the cup-shaped bristled end portion 7. As shown, the cup-shaped portion is crimped together and lightly heat sealed yalong a line adjacent the base 6 of the bristles 2. The seal conveniently may be easily broken by applying the free tips of the bristles to the teeth, causing them to spread apart and apply a splitting action to the seal under slight pressure. In this modiication the hollow tubular handle may -be filled with a mouthwash. The mouthwash may be removed therefrom either through a lpressure-rupturable seal at the U- vfold as described with reference to the embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6 or from the opposite end of the tube through an opening therein provided in any convenient manner.

The present toothbrushes may be made in a variety of sizes, preferably a size which is conveniently portable but which is not diicult to handle. An example of such a size is a toothbrush made from a 21/2 to 3" length of the aforedescribed tube. The toothbrush may be individually packaged and may :be sterilized in manners known in the packaging and contents sterilizing arts. They may conveniently be made available in dispenser machines located in public washrooms. They may also be assembled in kit form with other personal use items, for example, a hospital entrance kit for incoming patients.

Embodiments other than those specifically shown and within the scope of this invention will be obvious from the foregoing disclosure. For example, the hollow tubular handle may be subdivided into more than one compartment to contain different teeth cleaning or Ioral cleaning aids. Two compartments may be for-med in the handle, for example, by crimping the tube together intermediate the U-fold end and opposite end of the handle and sealing the walls -together therealong. These and other modifications incorporated with the essential novel features of this invention as defined in the claims are intended to be within the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece oral hygienic device having a :bristled end portion and integral therewith a handle for manipulating said device in use, comprising: a tube of flexible, resilient plastic material slit at one end to provide a Ibristled end, said tube being bent in a U-fold wherein the base of said U-fold is spaced from but closer to the base of the bristles at the slit endthan the opposite end of said tube, one leg of the U-bent tube being bent away from the other along a line located at a distance from the outer fold line at the base of said U-fold not less than the distance of the inner fold line at the base of said U-fold from said outer fold line to thereby provide a cup-shaped bristled end portion and a handle portion extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom and terminating at said opposite end.

2. A one-piece oral hygienic device having a bristled end portion and integral therewith a handle for manipulating said device in use, comprising: a tube of exible,

resilient plastic material slit at one end to provide abristled end, said tube being bent in a U-fold wherein the base of said U-fold is spaced from but closer to the base of Ithe bristles at the slit end than the opposite end of said tube, one leg of the U-bent tube Ibeing bent away :from the other along a line located at a distance from the outer fold line at the base of said Uffold not less than the distance of the inner fold line at the base of said U-fold from said outer fold line, the portions of the overlapped tube at the baseV of said U-fold being fusion sealed together, to thereby provide a cup-shaped bristled end portion and a handle portion extending substantially 'perpendicularly therefrom and terminating at said opposite end.

3. A one-piece oral hygienic device having a bristled end portion and integral therewith a handle for manipulating said device in use, comprising: a tube of tiexible,`

resilient plastic material slit at one end to provide ya bristled end, said tube being bent in a U-fold wherein the base of said U-fold is spaced from but closer to thev base of the xbristles at the slit end than the opposite end of said tube, one leg of the U-bent tube being bent awayv from the other along a line located at a distance from the outer fold line at the base 0f said U-fold rnot less than the distance of the inner fold line at the base `of said` U-fold from said outer fold line and between said outer fold line and the base of the bristles to thereby provide a cup-shaped bristled end portion and a lhandle extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom and terminating at said opposite end.

4. A one-piece oral hygienic device having a bristled end portion and integral therewith a handle for manipulating said device in use, comprising: a tube of flext ible, resilient thermoplasticmaterial slit at one end to,I

provide a bristled end, said tube being bent in a U-fold wherein the base-of said U-fold is spaced from but closer to the base of the bristles at the slit end than the opposite rend of said tube, one leg of the U-bent tube being bent away from the other along a line located at the portions of the overlapped tube at the base of said Ug-fold being fusion sealed together, to thereby provide a cup-shaped bristled end portion and a handle portion extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom termint ating at said opposite end. Y

5. A onepiece oral hygienic device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the handle portion contains a dentifrice l material and is sealed at said opposite end, and wherein the fusionseal at the overlapped tube portions is inter` rupted with a pressure-rupturable seal between the inner wall surfaces of said tube at the U-bent overlapped -portions thereof along a path extending from the handle portion to the cup-shaped bristled end portion to thereby provide a passageway along said path upon rupture of said seal for the passage of said dentifrice material from,

the handle to the bristled end portion.

6. A one-piece oral hygienic device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cup-shaped bristled end portion contains a dentifrice material lbetween the Ifusion seal at the U-fold and the base of said bristles, and a means to seal said cup-shaped portion at the Ibase of said bristles and retain said dentifrice therein.

7. A one-piece oral hygienic device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cup-shaped bristled end portion contains a dentifrice material ybetween the fusion seal at the U-fo1d and-the base of said bristles and is sealed in a pressure-rupturable seal along the base of sad'bristles to retain said dentifrice therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,540 4/ 1937 Welher T 15-227 X 2,793,381 5/ 1957 McWhorter 132-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 592,629 r 2/ 1960 Canada.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A ONE-PIECE ORAL HYGIENIC DEVICE HAVING A BRISTLED END PORTION AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH A HANDLE FOR MANIPULATING SAID DEVICE IN USE, COMPRISING: A TUBE OF FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL SLIT AT ONE END TO PROVIDE A BRISTLED END, SAID TUBE BEING BENT IN A U-FOLD WHEREIN THE BASE OF SAID U-FOLD IS SPACED FROM BUT CLOSER TO THE BASE OF THE BRISTLES AT THE SLIT END THAN THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID TUBE, ONE LEG OF THE U-BENT TUBE BEING BENT AWAY FROM THE OTHER ALONG A LINE LOCATED AT A DISTANCE FROM THE OUTER FOLD LINE AT THE BASE OF SAID U-FOLD NOT LESS THAN THE DISTANCE OF THE INNER FOLD LINE AT THE BASE OF SAID U-FOLD FORM SAID OUTER FOLD LINE TO THEREBY PROVIDE A CUP-SHAPED BRISTLED END PORTION AND A HANDLE PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY THEREFROM AND TERMINATING AT SAID OPPOSITE END. 